On the border: Two children injured in IED blast in Mohmand

Political admin officials said device was planted under tree

SHABQADAR: Two children were injured when an improvised explosive device went off in Lakhkar Kalay in Atmar Khel area of Baizai subdivision in Mohmand Agency, near the Pak-Afghan border on Saturday. An official of the political administration of Mohmand confirmed the incident, saying unidentified men planted an IED under a tree where locals rest during the day.

However, the device went off when children went near the tree to play early in the morning. Subsequently, two were injured. They were taken to the hospital in Peshawar where the condition of one of them is critical.  The political administration started a search operation in the area, during which five suspects were arrested under the Frontier Crimes Regulation. They were put behind bars of the political administration. No one has claimed responsibility of the blast till this report was filed.

The area where the blast occurred is said to be the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Such incidents have taken place there in the past, where security force officials, tribal elders and peace militia persons have come under attack. A large number of children have also fallen victim to these attacks.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2016.